Car-axle box.



PATENTED APR. 26, 1904.

, J. SPURR.

GAR AXLE BOX. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 27. 1904.

N0 MODEL.

nu: NORRIS PETERS c0. PHOYO-LII'HQ. wrsumm'on, n. c

Patented April 26, 1904:.

PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES SPURR, OF LIMA, OHIO.

CAR-AXLE BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 758,483, dated April 26, 1904.

Application filed January 27, 1904.. $erial No. 190,883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMEs SruRR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lima, in the county of Allen and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Car- Axle Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in car-axle boxes; and its object is to provide a coveringtherefor which cannot be removed except by persons perfectly familiar with the construction of the device. The boxes ordinarily employed are often opened by unauthorized persons and the packing therein removed; also, in case of wrecks the bearings are stolen from the boxes.

One of the objects of my invention is to so construct the covers of the axle-boxes that they cannot be opened except by persons familiar with their construction, and therefore the contents of the boxes will remain intact.

The invention consists of a cover having spring-strips extending inwardly therefrom and adapted to engage lugs cast upon the inner faces'of the sides of the box. When the cover is secured in place, the spring-strips are slid into the box until they are engaged by the lugs, and it is impossible to remove the cover unless considerableoutward pressure is exerted thereupon. As the general mode of opening covers of axle-boxes is by swinging them upward, it will be seen that this arrangement will prevent persons unfamiliar with the construction of this device from opening the box.

The invention also consists in the further novel construction and combination of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying d rawings, showing the preferred form of my invention, and in which- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the axle-box. Fig. 2 is a section on line 2 2, Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a detail View of one of the spring locking-strips detached.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference, 1 is a box of the ordinary construction and has guide-ribs 2 cast upon'the inner faces of the sides thereof adjacent the outer end of the box. A lug 3 is also cast upon the inner faces of the sides of the box and between the ribs 2. A closure 4. is constructed so as to simulate the closure ordinarily used, but the same is provided upon its inner face with angular spring-strips 5, which are fastened to the closure by means of screws 6 or in any other suitable manner. These strips have apertures 7 therein adjacent their free ends and are adapted to slide between the ribs 2. When it is'desired to place the closure in position, the free ends of the strips 5 are inserted between the outer ends of the ribs 2, and said strips are then pressed inward until the apertured portions thereof spring over the lugs 3. The closure 4 will thus be held in position upon the end of the box 1 and will have every appearance of the ordinary hinged closure. When it is desired to remove the cover, it is necessary to grasp the same at opposite sides and to pull outward with sufficient pressure to cause the free ends of the strips 5 to swing toward each other and off of the lugs 3. The cover can then be readily drawn outward from its proper position. The outer and inner faces of the lugs are preferably rounded, so as to facilitate the removal of the closure.

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of my invention, but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof. and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

-Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new is- 1. The combination with an axle-box having guide-ribs therein, and retaining-lugs interposed between the ribs; of a closure, and oppositely-arranged apertured spring-strips secured to the closure and adapted to automatically engage the lugs.

2. The combination with an axle-box having guide-ribs therein; of a closure, spring-strips extending from the closure and slidably mounted between the ribs, and means for locking the strips to the blocks. l

3. The combination with an axle-box having lugs therein with rounded ends; of a removable closure, and oppositely-disposed aperproject between the guides and engage the tured spring-strips extending from the closure lugs. I O and adapted to engage the lugs. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in 4. The combination with an axle-box having presence of two witnesses. retaining-lugs with rounded ends, and guides JAMES SPURR. adjacent the lugs; of a removable closure, and Witnesses: oppositely-disposed apertured spring-strips HENDERSON BOWMAN, extending from the closure and adapted to NATHAN H. GARRETsoN. 

